Hemp-brake.



PPUCTION FILEDv FEB. 29. |916.

Pmtea Jan. 9,1917.

` i am mm Y 1 N' MMM; @51, El V R. S. WEBB, Jn.y HEMP'BRAKE.

APPLICATION HLED fEB. 29, .l9l6\ I Patented Jan. 9,1917.

y v n 4 SHEETS-SHEET s.

Sway

ing the preferred embodiment o vUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD S. WEBB, JB., 0F LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF T0 ALLIE B. WEBB` AND ONE-HALF '150 MARY WEBB, BOTH 0F LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY.

Baur-BRAKE.

Application led February 29, 191,6. Serial No. 81,133.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, RICHARD S. Wann, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Lexington, in the county of Fayette and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hemp- Brakes, of which the following is a specification. A

M invention relates to machines for brea 'ng hemp.

The object of my invention is to construct a machine for removing and separating pith and fiber from hemp and other vegetable roducts of like character which can be used or industrial pur oses and for protecting the broken liber rom the deposlt of said pith and bark when once removed.

A further object is to construct a machine of this character which is strong, durable, and capable of performing its duties proficiently.

In the accompanying drawings illustratmy lnvention; Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine showing the arrangement of the gearing; Fig. 2 is a plan view with the upper structure removed to more clearly Illustrate the lower mechanism; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section through the machine; Fig. 4c is a detail enlarged transverse section of the foremost break rollers taken on line 4--4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is an enlargedv section through the first set of rollers taken on the line 545 of Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a detail fragmentary'perspective view of one of the air ducts; Fig. 7 is a detail yeiw of one 'end of one of the smooth rollers; Fig. 8 is a partial transverse section through the shield over the top of the main break; Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view of one end of one of the corrugated rollers; and Fig. 10 is a transverse vertical section on line 10-10 of Fig. 3.

kA, represents the base of the frame which is adapted to support the bearings for the transverse beater shaft B, feed rolls C and C', D and D', and the shafts of the delivery rolls E and E' and F and F'.

G, represents the feed table as shown adjacent to the first break or feed rolls C and C', which are arranged transversely of the machine. These rolls C and C' are supported in suitable bearing blocks 1 and 2, which are received in a housing 3 secured to the base portion of the frame.

The upper-most bearing block 1 is capable of vertlcal movement and is held down against a supporting bolt 4 by means of a tension spring 5, arranged in a suitable housing 6 on the upper side thereof. The shafts C and C' are adapted to receive, at intervals along their lengths, supporting blocks 7 which blocks are flattened on their periphery at equidistant points, and are adapted to receive the T-bars 8, which are arranged around the periphery of these` blocks.

lThe blocks 7 are provided on their face with annular grooves 9, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, which grooves are adapted to receive the nuts of bolts 10 passing through the T- bars and the block for securely fastening the bars thereto. As will be noted in Fig. 3, these T-bars 8 on the upper and lower shafts C'and C' alternate and effect a more complete breaking of the hemp Z, passing therebetween. The hemp Z passes through the said corrugated rollers C and C', the general effect being to break the pith or center of the stalk, every inch or so, and not injure the fiber which grows on the outside of the stalk, after which the hemp Z passes between the Smooth rollers D and D', the lower one of which is capable of lvertical movement, being held normally together by means of the tension springs 11 secured in suitable hous- -ing 12.

Mounted on the shaft of the roller D is a spur gear 13, adapted to mesh with a like spur gear 14, mounted on the roller shaft C'. Spur gears 15 and 16 mounted on the shafts o the rollers D and D' are adapted to mesh, while additional gears 17 and' 18 mounted on the shafts of the rollers C and C are adapted to mesh, which gearing causes the rollers C and C', D and D' to draw the hemp into `the machine.

The numeral 19 indicates heads or disks journaled on the beater shaft B, which are adapted to support break bars 20, arranged parallel with the beater shaft B. Arranged adjacent to the upper roller Dis an additional break bar 21,* one end of which is Patented Jan. 9, 1917.

tapered and adapted to scrape the roller D. The outer end of this 'bar is rounding as at 22 and adapted to form an abutment against which the hem Z is forced, when. the several break bars of t e main beater B pass upwardly and intersect their path. The effect being to bend the hemp Z carrying it along over the upper portion of the main beater B, whence it is passed to the rear of the beater and received by the delivery belts 23, which are preferably constructed as follows: The shafts of the rollers E and E and F and F are supported in suitable bearings, carried by upright bearing frames 24 and 25. These belts may be vprovided with transverse cleats or the like, if desirable, to

assist in performing their functions, and are arranged in pairs, .the upper belt 23 passing over the upper rollers E and F, while the lower belt 24 passes over the lower rollers E and F. At the outer edge of each of these belts are sprocket chains 25, adapted to pass around suitable sprockets 26 keyed to the shafts ofthe rollers. In addition to these sprocket chains, attached to the belt, an independent set ofl sprocket chains 27 are arranged to pass over suitable sprockets at the outer end of the upper set of rollers, while an independent set of sprocket chains 28, are arranged to pass around suitable sprockets at the outer end of the shafts E and F', to the lowerl rollers. Sprocket wheels 29 and 30, arranged on the upper and` lower shafts of thev rollersQE and E are adapted to mesh while similar sprocket wheels 31 and 32 are arranged on the shafts of the upper rollers of the shafts Fand F', and are likewise adapted to mesh, which sprockets in turn cause the belts to be driven in the same direction at their inner working surfaces, thereby carrying the hemp `from the beater to the rear of the machine. Arranged between the upright bearing supports 24 and 25 are adjustable tie rods 36 which provide means for regulating the tightness of the belts when desirable, the elongated slots 37 in the base of the bearing supports 25 permitting of the above adjustment.

Arranged in the rear of the rear belt'rollers F and F are a pair of lower and upper rollers 33 and 35. These rollers are .provided with flaps 34 and are adapted to travel in opposite directions than that of the aprons, thereby performing the double function of scraping the aprons, and at the same time freeing the ber from, the traveling aprons, to which the ber is inclined to stick after being compressed more or less therebetween when it is being carried to the rear of the machine. These rollers are normally geared to travel at a suilicient speed to carry the ber well away from the rear of the delivery-aprons. -The main drive-shaft of the 'main beater B is provided with a spur-gear 38, which meshes with the spur-gear .39

keyed to the shaft E of the rear deliverybelt for imparting motion thereto.

A similar gear 40, keyed to the shaft of the upper roller D, also meshes with the s ur gear 38 for imparting motion to the different feed rollers arranged at the front of the machine.v

of'this blower is arranged to empty vjust.

above rthe upper side of the hemp break B. A horizontally pivoted gate 40 is arranged adjacent to the outlet and is adapted to be raised or lowered to cause more or less blast along the upper side of the break B. As disclosed in Fig..3, this blast -is directed into -a chute 41 for carrying the dust and other particles well awa from the machine. Ar-

' ranged on each si ve of the chute 41 directly over the main beater B, are additional air ducts 42, as shown in Figs. 3 and 8. f Openings 43 in these air ducts 42 are arranged to deliver air transversely of the hemp break B, an equal distribution on each side thereof, serving to center-the hemp upon the said break. Shutters 44' are arranged adjacent to the side openings 43 and are adapted to be opened or closed as the occasion may demand to regulate the ow of air from the said openings, this being necessary in view of the natural current of air which may. pass through the machine at this point.

A rotary motion is imparted to the blower by means .of a sprocket wheel chain 45 leading from the sprocket 46, mounted on the main shaft of the hemp beater B, thence to a sprocket on a jack shaft 47 which is connected by spur gears 48 and 49 to the shaft of the blower H.

It will be noted that similar openings 50 are arranged in the heads 19 of the main hemp beater B, for allowing air to pass through these heads, and out between the transverse breaker bars 20, 'thereby assisting greatly in the removal of the dust from the hemp being treated. Similar shutters 5l are arranged adjacent to these openings 50 for regulating the said openings. An inclined chute or pocket 52 is arranged beneath the beater to catch the pith and chaff which falls from the under side of the beater B, and a blower 53 is arranged to deliver its blast in such a direction as to prevent the accumulation of dirt beneath the beater, which dis- A charges a great volume of that material constantly.

It will thus be seen that I have devised a machine which effects a thorough and complete disintegration of the chai and other beater.

L 2. Ina hemp-brake,the combination with crushing means, of a beater, means directing a blast of air tangentially upon the beater, and means directing a `blast of air transversely of said beater.

3. In a hemp-brake, he combination with crushing means, of a beater, means directing a blast of air tangentially upon the beater, means directing a blast of air transversely of vsaid beater, and means for regulating the supply of air transversely thereof. e

4. In a hemp-brake, the combination with crushing means, ofla beater, means directing a blast of air tangentially upon said beater, means directing a blast of air transversely of said beater, and means for pass- .ing air radially through said beater.

5. In a hemp brake, the combination with a feeding mechanism, `of a break-bar, a rotary beater arranged to beat the stalks upon the under side of such break-bar, a blower arranged to direct a blast of air across the upper side of the rotary beater, a chute for receiving the refuse blown from the rotary beater, auxiliary air ducts arranged at the sides of the chute adapted to direct a blast of air transversely of said rotary beater, and delivery belts at the rear of the beater.

6. In a hemp bra-ke, the combination of a feeding mechanism, a rotary beater, pneumatic means arranged to direct a blast of air across the upper side of the rotary beater, and additional pneumatic means adapted to blow a blast of air transversely of said beater.

7 In a hemp brake, the combination, with a feeding mechanism, of a break-bar, a rotary beater arrangedto beat the stalks upon the under side of such break-bar, pneumatic means, for centering the hemp upon the rotary beater, delivery means at the side of the rotary vbeater consisting of upper and lower sets of rolls, delivery belts arranged thereon, and rotary means driven'from said rolls for cleaning and carryinggthe fiber away from said delivery belts. y

8. In a hemp brake, the combination with a vfeeding mechanism, of. a rotary beater, pneumatic means Afor centering the hemp upon the rotary beater, additional pneumatic means adapted to direct a blast pif air transversel of the rotary beater, and means for intro ucing'aii; within said rotary beater to blow the refuse from the stalks as they pass around the beater.

9. a hem brake, the combination with a feeding mec anism, of a break-bar, a rotary beater arranged to beat the stalks upon the underside of such break-bar, pneumatic means for centeringv the hemp upon the rotar beater, delivery means at the side of sai rotarybeater consisting of u per and lower sets of rolls, belts 1 arrange on said sets, which ,sets are independently geared toe gether by sprocket chains on each side there of while the forward, upper and lower rolls and the rearward, upper and lower rolls are gearedtogether and rotary means adapted to scrape and carry the liber awayv Afrom said n belts.

10. In ahemp brake, the combination with a feeding mechanism, of a rotary beater, pneumatlc means for centering the hemp upon the rotary beater, additional pneumatic means adapted to direct a blast of air transversely of the rotary beater to blow the refuse from thestalks as they pass around the beater, a chute for receiving the refuse blown from the rotary beater, and delivery means at the rear of the rotary beater.

vl1. In a hemp brake, the combination with a set of preliminary breaking rolls, of a set of feed rolls in the rear thereof, a break-bar, arranged directly in the rear of said feed rolls the inner end of which is adapted to scrape the uppermost feed roll, a rotary beater arranged to beat the stalk-upon the under side of such breaker bar, pneumatic means for centering the hemp upon the rotary beater, additional pneumatic means adapted to-blow the refuse from the stalks as they pass around the yrotary beater, a blower arranged beneath the rotary beater adapted' to blow the refuse therefrom, and delivery belts arranged at one side of the bea-ter.

12. In a hemp-brake, the combination with a crushing means, of a beater,means direct ing a blast of air tangentially' upon said beater, means directing a; blast of air transversely of said beater,`means for passing air radially through said beater, and individual means for regulating the supply of air across the beater transversely thereof and radially therethrough respectively.

13. In a hemp-brake, the combination with a feeding mechanism, of a brake-bar, a rotary beaterarranged to beat the stalks upon` of said roy In testimony whereof I atx my signature, 1n the presence of two witnesses.

l RICHARD s. WEBB, JR. Witnessesz S. E. MATTINGLY,

Crus. E.`MABT1N. 

